System and method for domain name registration using a cache

Abstract

A system for allocating domain name acquisition resources is provided. The system performs a method comprising: obtaining, at a database, a list of domain names that are to be deleted during a first time window; updating a drop catch table in the database, wherein the drop catch table comprises a second list of domain names that are to be deleted; refreshing a cache in an application server that provides DNS services based on the drop catch table; obtaining, at the application server, a EPP command from a registrar to register a domain name from the drop catch table that is about to be deleted during a second time window; determining, based on the cache, that the domain name to be registered is available to be registered; updating a flag for the domain name in the cache indicating that the domain name is registered; and providing an acknowledgment to the registrar.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for dynamically allocating domain name acquisition resources, comprising:
 a registry database; 
 a first application server configured to provide domain name services; 
 a processing system of a device comprising one or more processors; and 
 a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the one or more computer-readable media contain instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising: 
 storing, at the registry database, a first list of domain names that are to be deleted during a first time window; 
 updating a drop catch table in the registry database, wherein the drop catch table comprises a second list of domain names that are to be deleted during a second time window and availability information regarding the domain names that are to be deleted during the second time window, wherein the updating comprises updating the availability information, wherein the first list is separate from the second list; 
 refreshing, based on the drop catch table, a first cache in the first application server; 
 obtaining, at the first application server, a command from a first registrar to register a domain name from the second list of domain names; 
 determining, based on the first cache, that the domain name is available to be registered; 
 updating an indication of registration availability for the domain name in the first cache to represent that the domain name is registered; and 
 providing an acknowledgment to the first registrar that the domain name has been registered. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the domain name is available to be registered further comprises determining that the indication of registration availability is set to yes. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first time window is 1 to 2 hours before the second time window. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refreshing the first cache occurs in time intervals of 2 seconds. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising updating the drop catch table based on the domain name that has been registered. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cache is configured to store premium domain names. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the domain name is not a premium domain name; 
 determining, based on a second cache, that the domain name to be registered is available to be registered; and 
 updating an indication of registration availability for the domain name in the second cache to represent that the domain name is registered. 
 
     
     
       8. A method for dynamically allocating domain name acquisition resources, comprising:
 storing, at a registry database, a first list of domain names that are to be deleted during a first time window; 
 updating a drop catch table in the registry database, wherein the drop catch table comprises a second list of domain names that are to be deleted during a second time window and availability information regarding the domain names that are to be deleted during the second time window, wherein the updating comprises updating the availability information, wherein the first list is separate from the second list; 
 refreshing, based on the drop catch table, a first cache in a first application server configured to provide domain name services; 
 obtaining, at the first application server, a command from a first registrar to register a domain name from the second list of domain names; 
 determining, based on the first cache, that the domain name to be registered is available to be registered; 
 updating an indication of registration availability for the domain name in the first cache to represent that the domain name is registered; and 
 providing an acknowledgment to the first registrar that the domain name has been registered. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the determining that the domain name is available to be registered further comprises determining that the indication of registration availability is set to yes. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first time window is 1 to 2 hours before the second time window. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the refreshing the first cache occurs in time intervals of 2 seconds. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising updating the drop catch table based on the domain name that has been registered. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first cache is configured to store premium domain names. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining that the domain name is not a premium domain name; 
 determining, based on a second cache, that the domain name to be registered is available to be registered; and 
 updating an indication of registration availability for the domain name in the second cache to represent that the domain name is registered. 
 
     
     
       15. A system for dynamically allocating domain name acquisition resources, comprising:
 a processing system of a device comprising one or more processors; and 
 a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the one or more computer-readable media contain instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising: 
 storing, at a registry database, a first list of domain names that are to be deleted during a first time window; 
 updating a drop catch table in the registry database, wherein the drop catch table comprises a second list of domain names that are to be deleted during a second time window and availability information regarding the domain names that are to be deleted during the second time window, wherein the updating comprises updating the availability information, wherein the first list is separate from the second list; 
 refreshing, based on the drop catch table, a first cache in a first application server configured to provide domain name services; 
 obtaining, at the first application server, a command from a first registrar to register a domain name from the second list of domain names; 
 determining, based on the first cache, that the domain name to be registered is not available to be registered; and 
 providing a response to the first registrar that the domain name is not available to be registered. 
 
     
     
       16. A system for dynamically allocating domain name acquisition resources, comprising:
 a first application server configured to provide domain name system (DNS) services based on a first network policy, the first application server comprising a first cache; 
 a second application server configured to provide DNS services based on a second network policy to reduce drop catching activity at the second application server, the second application server comprising a second cache, wherein the second network policy provides for delay for registration of drop catch domain names by specifying an availability time; and 
 a database, in communication with the first application server and the second application server, the database storing a domain name table of domain names that are scheduled to be deleted, wherein the database is periodically updated with domain names that are to be deleted. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first network policy comprises a first availability policy for catching domain names for a first set of registrars, wherein the second network policy comprises a second availability policy for catching domain names for a second set of registrars, wherein the first availability policy allows drop catch domain names to be available for registration immediately. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first cache, the second cache, or both are refreshed at a timed interval from the database. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the availability information comprises an availability flag.